OVER a hundred striking PCS and Prospect union members held a successful second consecutive day of strike action with rallies outside the Victoria & Albert museum in South Kensington on Saturday.
The strikers are demanding a minimum 4 per cent pay rise, time and a half for Bank Holiday working and a London Living Wage accreditation.
Prospect rep Susan North told News Line: ‘Our rally yesterday was really inspiring, addressed by Prospect general secretary Mike Clancy, a speaker from the Institute of Cancer Research strikers and support from the Science Museum – the whole of Cromwell Road was filled, a huge success.’
On the picket line Rosin Sullivan told News Line: ‘Public sector pay has been stripped for over decade and it’s time for a change.
‘Our rally yesterday was very unifying. The money is there but it has not being used responsibly.’
PCS rep Meg Hogg told News Line: ‘The museum can afford to pay our rise and we have suffered from years of pay erosion and now is the time to fix that.
‘People are being forced out of the sector because they can’t afford to live in London.
‘They can’t afford to commute in London – can’t afford to get on the Tube.
‘People are taking annual leave because they can’t afford their train tickets.
‘We’ve got people who are making choices between skipping meals and getting into work and it’s not good enough any more!
‘We refuse to allow the culture sector to slide back to a time when working in the arts and culture was just a hobby for rich people.’
Prospect member Allen Irvine said: ‘We are striking for fair pay, especially for the lower paid who really struggle living in London.
‘Some of them are doing second jobs.
‘Living in London is so expensive. My daughter has a good job but she is paying £1,200 a month in rent!’
Young PCS striker Melin said: ‘We want London Living Wage accreditation because some of my work colleagues are having to do second jobs.
‘We love working in the museum very much, but in order to keep working in this sector we need to be able to afford to do so.’
After picketing the front of the museum on the Cromwell Road strikers marched round to the only entrance open to the public on Exhibition Road, where they leafleted passers-by explaining about their strike action which was welcomed by visitors – some refusing to cross their picket line.
During the picket, a number of speakers from the strike addressed the crowd, including Prospect rep Susan North, who said: ‘Our banner has the words of William Morris: “May we live and work in hope and with pleasure”.
‘He was a radical socialist and said everyone should be paid the full value of their labour.
‘He would be appalled at the way the V&A is treating their staff.’
PCS rep Alisha said: ‘Last year, I did a health and safety inspection at Storehouse.
‘We’d had so many staff report issues with access to water, seating, staffing levels, and failure to meet reasonable adjustments.
‘The same issues, again and again, and they weren’t being listened to.
‘I put these to management in a report. “We reject that” – that’s what I was told.
‘They refused to acknowledge there was a problem, and refused to negotiate with reps and staff until they had to.
‘Even as staff tried talking to them. Even as staff got sick. It shows a complete indifference to the health and safety of some of their lowest paid staff.
‘We have finally seen progress, thanks to the tireless work of our reps and members, but it has taken too long.
‘If it really is no issue, then I call upon upper management to do what they expect their staff to – work a twelve-hour shift.
‘Do it without being able to sit down, with woefully little water, and few toilet breaks, and imagine you’re doing that on a wage that you can’t live on.
‘We deserve access to water. We deserve pay security. We deserve to have our basic needs met, our health valued.
‘Staff put so much into keeping the V&A running, and we all deserve so much more than what we get. Despite that, all we are asking for is the bare minimum that an institute like the V&A can offer.’
PCS branch chair Franky Francis, addressing the crowd said: ‘Firstly, I want to thank every single person for coming down today, for voting for strike action, for speaking to their colleagues about why they’re taking a stand.
‘All of us have shown such huge courage together in being here and that cannot be forgotten.
‘Every year, we all face challenges working in the culture sector: Insecurity, low wages as well as unmanageable workloads.
‘We are continually expected to put up with less because we love the work, which we do. But love is not enough.
‘The employer needs to realise the impact they are having on all staff in ignoring our demands.
‘They talk about financial risk but there is a real risk of losing connection with the workforce that makes the V&A what it is today.
‘We are the ones who push the resources we are given to make it all happen; who work to appreciate, explore and share the collection with the public.
‘They must remember that without us, their museum is nothing but an empty building.
‘And speaking of buildings, working over the opening of Storehouse, I have seen the way that staff have been forgotten.
‘They opened our building without giving real thought to facilities for their workforce.
‘Extortionate food prices, poor seating provision and lack of access to a basic right such as water.
‘Is this the direction we want our museum to be going in?
‘The fight to protect the conditions of our workplaces is real.
‘We have seen the employer start to come to our demands. With the power of our collective action, we now can see access to water on the horizon for staff at Storehouse.
‘But the core of our dispute is pay. What is shocking is that our demands are very reasonable. This dispute should have been over long ago.
‘They’ve said it themselves – the past year has been an incredible success for the museum.
‘That’s because of the work of every single one of us. It is time they started showing their appreciation for all of us – the workforce that upholds the incredible standards of the V&A, every single day.
‘So, if they haven’t heard it loud enough already.
‘What do we want?
‘Fair Pay!
‘When do we want it?
‘Now!
‘Thanks for coming down and showing support. All of us at the branch really appreciate it.’
Prospect rep Cathie Sabrina Offord told the rally: ‘Our colleagues at the V&A in east London bring greetings.
‘I know what your worth and it is more than 4 per cent.
‘We are passionate about our jobs but passion doesn’t pay the bills.’
PCS member Cassandra made an impassioned speech: ‘What I object to most of all is the director who will not come to the negotiating table but saw fit to come outside and stand behind locked gates mocking the workers and he is an ex-Labour MP.’
Director of the V&A is former Labour MP Tristram Hunt.
At the picket, PCS member Camilla Trajber explained why the accreditation for the London Living Wage was so important, saying: ‘The museum claims they have agreed the London Living Wage but they threaten to revoke it every year saying it is unaffordable.
‘They said accreditation of the London Living Wage is like a straightjacket.’